Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“I was honoured to have a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV,” Boland said in a brief social media post. “It was a privilege to hear first hand the insights which underpin the Holy Father’s moral leadership. I am also deeply grateful for the opportunity to convey to his Holiness my EESC priorities.”

Pope Leo XIV has named Archbishop Felice Accrocca of Benevento, Italy, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino.

In the most prominent front-page article in its January 10 edition, L’Osservatore Romano highlighted the plight of Catholics in Yemen (map) amid the nation’s civil war.

In his concluding remarks to the recent extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV spoke about the centrality of Christ, emphasized the importance of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), reflected on synodality, and called on the world’s cardinals to listen to abuse victims.

After greeting young people who would follow the event on screens outside, Pope Leo entered the hall, listened to remarks from Cardinal Baldassare Reina (his vicar general for Rome) and heard questions from young people about loneliness, dissatisfaction, and boredom.

The Pope spoke about the importance of drawing near to our neighbor, as God draws near to us. He also advised:

First of all, pray. This is the most concrete act that the Christian does for the good of those around him, of himself and of the whole world. Praying is an act of freedom, which breaks the chains of boredom, pride and indifference.

To set the world on fire, an ardent heart is needed! And God kindles the fire when we pray, especially when we receive him and adore him in the Eucharist, when we encounter him in the Gospel, when we sing of him in the Psalms. Thus he renders us capable of being the light of the world and the salt of the earth.